Pneumatic engine-starter.



G. G. WESTERFIELD.

PNEUMATIC ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.27,1912.

wg g m Patented Aug". 25, 1914 I W 2 EHEBTBSHEET 1.

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G. Gr. WESTERFIELD.

PNEUMATIC ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1912.

Patented Aug-25,1914;

2 SHEETS'-SHEBT 2.

mnmmu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRANVILLE G. WESTERFIELD, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRANVILLE G. Wns- TERFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Pneumatic Engine-Starter, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a simple and efficient pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, and to render said starter constantly available for use by using it as an automatically controlled pump to maintain the desired pneumatic pressure.

The various novel features of my invention will appear from the description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in. the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front eleration, with part of the casing removed and with some parts in section, of an engine starter embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partly sectional elevation of the controlling valve and switch, and of a fragment of the air tank; Fig. 4 is a substantially horizontal section through the controlling valve and switch; Fig. 5 an elevation of the inner face of the fixed switch contact; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a plan, partly'in section on the line 77 of Fig. 1, of one of the cylinders and its mounting.

The frame is made of two mating parts 10 and 11, suitably held together, as by bolts, and provided with suitable supporting means, such as lugs or screws. lfn this frame are mounted two shafts 12 and 13. The shaft 12 is either the crank shaft of the internal combustion engine to which the starter is applied, or is arranged for suitable connection to such engine shaft. The shaft 13 is the crank shaft of a multi-cylinder pneumatic engine and pump. 0n the shaft 12 is keyed a square collar 15 provided with a disk flange 16 carrying a number of pawls 17. These pawls coijperate with the teeth of a ratchet 18-on the hub of a gear 19 rotatably mounted, as by ball bearings 20, on the shaft 12. The gear 19 meshes with a pinion 21 fixed on one end of the shaft 13. Slidably mounted on the eXter nally squared sleeve 15 is an internally squared sleeve 22 which carries one member of a friction clutch. The other member 24 of this clutch is integral with or otherwise fixed to a pinion 25 rotatably mounted, as by a sleeve 26, on a shaft 12. The pinion 25 meshes with a gear 27 loosely mounted, as by ball bearings 28, on the end of the shaft 13 opposite the pinion 21. The hub of the gear 28 is provided with ratchet teeth 29, with which cooperate pawls 30 pivoted on the disk 31 of the crank shaft 13. The pawls 17 and 30 both bite inwardly on their coiiperating ratchets, and when not in engagement with cooperating ratchet teeth while being rotated are thrown outwardly by the action of centrifugal force, their outward movement being limited by flanges 17 and 30 on the disks 16 and 31, respectively. By means of the double connection thus provided between the shafts 12 and 13, power applied to either shaft may be transmitted at diminished speed to the other; from the shaft 13 through the pinion 21, gear 19, ratchet teeth 18, pawls 17, and sleeve 15 to the shaft 12, and from the shaft 12 through the clutch members 23 and 24, pinion 25, gear 27, ratchet 29, and 'pawls 30 to the shaft 13.

The crank shaft 13 is connected by three piston rods 35 to three pistons 36 mounted in three cylinders 37 swingingly mounted between the frame sections 10 and 11 and equally distributed around the crank shaft. As shown, the outer end of each cylinder 37 is provided on opposite sides with ball-like projections 38 and 39, which fit in sockets 40 and 41, respectively. The socket 41 is fixed in the frame section 10, while the socket 40 is slidably mounted in the frame section 11, being pressed toward the cylinder by a coil spring 42, thus providing for Patented Aug. 25, 1914. Application filed March 27, 1912. Serial No. 686,605.

taking up wear. Each projection 39 is cored out to form a circular chamber 43 communicating with the space in the cylinder 37 at the outer end of such cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2. The chamber 43 is provided with inlet and exhaust ports 44 and 45, which (:0- operate with inlet and exhaust ports 46 and 47 in the socket 41 as the corresponding cylinder swings. Preferably the ports 44 and 45, and .46 and 47, are symmetrically arranged with respect to a vertical plane when the cylinders with which they co6perate are in their middle positions. Each inlet port 46 opens upwardly through the socket 41 to the supply pipe 48. Similarly, each exhaust port 47 opens upwardly through the socket 41 to the discharge pipe 49, the discharge passageway through the socket 41 being provided with a ball check valve 50 to prevent downward flow of fluid therethrough.

The pipes 48 and 49 lead to the control valve and switch. The casing 55 of the control valve is provided with three ports 56, 57, 58, spaced 120 apart and communicating, respectively, with an air storage tank 59, the supply pipe 48 and the discharge pipe 49. The casing 55 also has two other ports 60 and 61, which open to the atmos-' phere and are located unsymmetrically between the ports 56 and 57, and 57 and 58, and at equal distances from the ports 57 and 58, respectively. The casing 55 is preferably tapered to receive a similarly tapered valve stem 62, which is pressed to its seat by a spring 63. The valve stem 62 has two passages 64 and 65 through it, the opposite ends of the passage 64 being spaced 120 apart, and the opposite ends of the passage 65being spaced apart a distance equal to i that between the ports 57 and 60, or 58 and 61. The valve stem 62 is provided with a three tooth ratchet wheel 66, which coiiperates with a pawl 67 carried by a foot lever 68, conveniently projecting through the floor 69 of the automobile if the device is used with an automobile, and biased to the rear. ward, the valve stem 62 may be moved 120 forward. The valve stem 62 carries a spring switch contact 70, which presses against a plate 71 of insulation fastened to the end of valve casing 55. The plate 71 carries a metal segment 72 with which the contact engages in the two working positions of the valve stem 62. The switch formed by the contacts 70 and 72 may be connected by the grounded connection of the former and the cable 73 connected to the latter to the spark circuit of the engine with which the starter is associated.

The air storage tank 59, which may also be used to supply compressed air for tire inflation or other purposes andis preferably provided with a suitable gage '7 5, is connected by a pipe 76 to a chamber 77 carried by the frame section 11 below the shaft,

12. This chamber is provided with a diaphragm 78 from which projects a rod 79. A pin 80 on the rod 79 projects through a slot in the upper end of a pivoted lever 81. The lower end of the lever 81 is also slotted to receive a pin 82 on aplunger 83 pressed by a spring 84 to oppose the air pressure in the chamber 77. The spring 84 is adjustable bya screw 85. A slot 86 in the end of the rod 79 receives a pin 87 carried by the operating fork 88 of the sliding clutch member 23. The lower end of the fork 88 is pivoted to a spring pressed plunger 89, the movement of the plunger by its spring being limited by a notch 90 in its support.

By pushing the foot lever 68 for- While the connection 76 between the reservoir 59 and the chamber 77 may be direct, it is preferred that it be by way of an extra port 95 in the casing and branch passage 96 from the passage 64 in the stem control valve. The port 95 is so located with respect to the other ports in the valve casing that it never opens to either passage 64 or' 65 when such passage communicates w1th any other port, except when the passage 64 connects the ports 56 and 58. At that time the port 95 communicates with the passage 64 by way of the branch passage 96 Th s is preferably accomplishedby locating the port 95 and the cotiperatmg end of the branch passage 96 in a different plane from that in which the other ports are located. Thus the diaphragm chamber 77 is cut oli save when the tank 59 communicates with the discharge pipe 49, thereby preventing movement of the clutch member 23 save when the tank may be suppl1ed w th air. As the diaphragm chamber 77 1s usually quite small, it is advisable either to make the pipe 76 of large capacity or to connect a small reservoir 97 in said p pe; thus d1- minishing the elfect on the d1aphragm of the possible leakage of air from the diaphragm chamber.

Assume that the controlling valve and switch is in oli' position, with the switch contacts 70 and 72 out of engagement, the ports 57 and 58 connected together by the passage 64, and the port 56 open to the now closed passage 65. The parts are at rest. To start the engine, the foot-lever 68 is pushed to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, thus moving the controlling valve switch to starting position to brlng the contacts 70 and 72 into engagement to complete the sparking circuit, to connect the ports 56 and 57 by the passage 64, and to connect the ports 58 and 61 by the passage 65. Air now passes from the storage tank 59 to the supply pipe 48, passing thence through the cotiperating inlet ports 44 and 46 of the several cylinders as they successively come into proper position and operating pistons 36 in the cylinders 37, then escaping through the outlet ports 45 and 47 and the discharge pipe 49 to the atmos- 'ohere. The swinging movement of the cylinders to open and close the ports takes place .mostly while the corresponding pistons are nearly at rest. The pistons drive the crank shaft 13,- which transmits its power thus received through the pinion 21, gear 19, ratchet 18, and pawls 17 to the shaft 12, thus starting the engine. The pawls 30 slip over the ratchet teeth 29 at this time. After a few revolutions the engine begins to operate by its own power, and speeds up, causing the pawls 17 to slip over the rat hetteeth 18. These pawls at once swing out against the flange 17, thus avoiding both wear and noise. The controlling switch lever 68, which has meanwhile returned to its normal. position, is new again moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, thus moving the valve stem 62 another 120 forward or to running position as shown; if this is not done, the device will continue to operate as an air engine until the pressure within the tank 59 ecomes insuflicient to operate it. By the last named movement of the valve stem 62, the switch contacts 70 and 72 are maintained in engagement, the ports 56, 58, and 95 are connected by the passages 6t and 96, and the ports 57 and 60 are connected by the passage 65. This converts the device into an air pump, for it opens the supply pipe 48 to the atmosphere and the discharge pipe 49 to the air storage tank 59, and also makes the diaphragm 78 responsive to the pressure in the tank 59. If the pressure in the tank 59 is below the predetermined value for which the spring 84 is set, such spring set once quickly forces the rod 79 to the left (Fig. 2) to bring the clutch members 23 and 24 into engagement, thus causing power to be transmitted through such clutch members from the shaft 12 to the shaft 13. 'The shaft 13, now operating at a lower speed than the shaft 12 because of the gear ratio of the pinion 25 and gear 27, drives the device as an air pump, and raises the pressure in the tank 59. As such pressure rises, the rod 7 9 is forced to the right until the slots in the lever 81 slant upwardly slightly to the right (Fig. 2), whereupon the pins 80 and 82 slip to the upper ends of such slots to raise the meehanical advantage of the rod 79 over the plunger 83. Un account of this increased mechanical advantage, the rod 79 moves suddenly to the right a sufilcient distance first to cause the engagement of the plunger 89 and stop 90 and then to disengage the clutch members 23 and 24. This allows the shaft 13 to stop, thus causing the pumping action of the deviceto cease. As the pressure in the tank 59 falls, the control valve still being in running position, the spring 84 forces the rod 79 to the left, against the diminishing air pressure in the chamber 77, until the slots in the lever 81 slant upwardly slightly to the left (Fig. 2) whereupon the pins 80 and 82 slide to the bottom of such slots and raise the mechanical advantage of the plunger 83 over the rod 79. This causes the clutch member 23' to move quickly into engagement with the clutch member 24 and the plunger 89 to leave the stop 90, thus again starting the action of the device as an air pump. llf the control valve is not in running position, this fall in pressure does not afieet the clutch, for th diaphragm chamber 77 is disconnected from the tank 59 at the control valve.

When it is desired to stop the engine, the foot lever is again pushed to dotted line position, thus moving the control valve and switch another 120 forward to off position. This separates the switch contacts 71 and 72, disconnects the tank 59 and diaphragm chamber 77 from everything, and connects the ports 57 and 58 together.

My invention is capable of considerable modification from the recise arrangement here shown and described, and I aim to cover all modifications which come within its spirit and scope as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim as new is: v a

1. A pneumatic starter for internal coinbustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft therefor, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections of different speed ratios between said two shafts, each of said connections including a pawl and ratchet device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said cylinder to cause the latter to operate as an engine by pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said'reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for controlling said clutch.

2. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft therefor, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections of different speed ratios between said two shafts, each of said connections including a device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of said connections including a clutch. a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said cylinder to cause the latter to operate as an engine by pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for controlling said clutch.

3. A pneumatic starter for internal conibustion engines, comprisinga cylinder and piston, a crank shaft therefor, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connection of different speed ratios between said two shafts, each of said connections including a pawl and ratchet device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of 'said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said cylinder to cause the latter to operate as an engine by pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for controlling said clutch, said valve being inde-.

clutch, a reservoir for fluid "under pressure,;

a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said cylinder to cause the latter to operate as an engine by pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to. said reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for controlling said clutch, said valve being independent of said pressure-responsive means.

5. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, said "cylinder being provided with intake and outlet ports, a reservoir for air under pressure, a controlling valvehaving three positions in which it respectively connects the reservoir to the intake port and the outlet port to the atmosphere, connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port and closes the connection from the reservoir and connects the inlet and outlet ports together, an operating lever for said valve, and a pawl and ratchet connection between said valve and said operating lever.

6. A. pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprisin a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft to WhlCh said piston is connected, said cylinder being provided with intake and outlet ports, a reservoir for air under pressure, and a controlling valve having three positions in which it respectively connects the reservoir to the intake port and the outlet port to the atmosphere, connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port, and closes the connection from the reservoir, said valve being movable directly from the first, second, and third of said positions /-to the second, third, and first of said positions respectively without passing through the other position.

7 A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, said cylinder being provided with intake and outlet ports, a. reservoir for air under pressure: and a controlling valve having three positions in which it respectively connects the reservoir to the intake port and the outlet port to the atmosphere,

connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port, and closes the connection from the reservoir and connects the inlet and outlet ports together, said valve being movable directly from' the first, second, and third of said positions to the second, third, and first of said positions respectively without passing through the other position.

8. pneumatic starter for internal comcloses the connection from the reservoir, an

operating lever for said valve, and a pawl and ratchet connection between said valve and said operating lever.

9. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft therefor, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections of different speed ratios between said two shafts, each of said connections including a pawl and ratchet device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling-the connections of the ports of said cylinder to cause the latter to operate as an engine by pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means responsive to the rise and fall of the pressure in said reservoir for causing the unbustion engines, comprising a cylinder and clutching and clutching of said clutchupon port and the outlet port to,the atmosphere,

connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port, and closes the connection from the reservoir.

11. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections between said last named shaft and said crank shaft, said two mechanical connections having different speed ratios and being provided with means whereby they each transmit power in one direction only, a reservoir for air under pressure, and a controlling valve having three positions in which it respectively connects the reservoir to the intake port and the outlet port to the atmosphere, connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port and closes the connection from the reservoir, said valve being movable directly from the first, second, and third of said ositions to the second, third, and first of said positions respectively without passing through the other position.

12. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections between said last named shaft and said crank shaft, said two mechanical connections having different speed ratios and being provided with means whereby they transmit power in one direction only, a clutch in one of said connections, a reservoir for air under pressure, means controlled by the pressure in said reservoir for controlling said clutch, and a conconnected, a shaft for connection to the en-;

gine, two mechanical connections between said last named shaft and said crank shaft, said two mechanical connections having different speed ratios and being provided with means whereby they'transmit power in one direction only, a clutch in one of said connections, a reservoir for air under pressure, means controlled by the pressure in, said reservoir for controlling said clutch, and a controlling valve having three positions in which it respectively connects the reservoir to the intake port and the outlet port to the atmosphere, connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port, and closes the connection from the reservoir, said valve being movable directly from the first, second, and third of said positions to the second, third, and first of said positions respectively without passing through the other position.

14. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections between said last named shaft and said crank shaft, said two mechanical connections having different speed ratios and being provided with means whereby they transmit power in one direction only,'a clutch in one of said connections, means controlled by fluid pressure for controlling said clutch, a. reservoir for a1r under pressure, and a controlling valve having three positions in which it respectively connects the reservoir to the intake port and the outlet port to the atmosphere, connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port and to the clutch-controlling means, and closes the connection from the reservoir.

15. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections between said last named shaft and said crank shaft, said two mechanical connections having different speed ratios and being provided with means whereby they transmit power in one direction only, a clutch in one of said connections, means controlled by fluid pressure for controlling said clutch, a reservoir for air under pressure, and a controlling valve having three positions in which it respectively connects the-reservoir to the intake port and the outlet port to the atmosphere, connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port and to the clutch-controlling means, and closes the connection from the reservoir, said valve being movable directly from the first, second, and third of said posit-ions to the second,

third, and first of said positions respectively without passing through the other position.

16. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a 'crank shaft therefor, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections of different speed ratios between said two shafts, each of said connections including a device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said cylinder to cause the latter to operate as an engine by pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means responsive to the rise and fall of the pressure in said reservoir for causing the unclutching and clutching of said clutch upon said rise and fall respectively.

17. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections between said last named shaft and said crank shaft, said two mechanical connections having different speed ratios and being provided with means whereby each transmits power in one direction only, a clutch in one of said consaid clutch, and a control valve having" three positions in which ,it respectively connects the reservoir to the intake port and the outlet port to the atmosphere, connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port and to the clutchcontrolling means, and closes the connection from the reservoir.

18. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft to which said piston is connected, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections between said last named shaft and said crank shaft, said two mechanical connections having different speed ratios and being provided with means whereby each transmits power in one direction only, a clutch in one of said connections, a reservoir for air under pressure, means controlled by the pressure in said reservoir for both clutching and unclutching said clutch, and a controlvalve having three positions in which it respectively connects the reservoir to the intake port and the outlet port to the atmosphere, connects the intake port to the atmosphere and the reservoir to the outlet port, and closes the connection from the reservoir.

19. In combination, a rotating shaft, a fluid pump, a reservoir supplied by said fluid pump,a mechanical connection between said shaft and said fluid. pump, said connection including a clutch, a lever controlling said clutch, said lever having a floating pivot spring-pressed toward a limit of movement in' one direction, a spring and a device responsive to the pressure in said reservoir acting oppositely on said lever, and means for causing the mechanical advantage between said pressure-responsive device and said spring to vary suddenly at certain points in the movement of said lever on the rise and fall of the pressure in the reservoir to cause the sudden engagement or disengagement of said clutch.

20. A pneumatic starter foninternal combustion engines, comprising a cylinder and piston, a crank shaft therefor, a shaft for connection to the engine, two mechanical connections of different speed ratios between said two shafts, each of said connections including a device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said cylinder to cause the latter to operate as an engine by pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means for controlling such clutch, said means 'being responsive to the pressure in said reservoir only when the connections of the cylinder ports are those to cause it to act as a pump.

21. A pneumatic starterfor internal combustion ,engines, comprising an air engine, a shaft therefor, a shaft for connection to the internal combustion engine, two mechanical connections of different speed ratios between said two shafts, each of said connections including a device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of said connections including a. clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said air engine to cause the latter to operate as an engine by air pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for controlling said clutch.

22. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising an air engine, a shaft therefor, a shaft for connection to the internal combustion engine, two mechanical connections of "different speed ratios between said two shafts, each of said connections including a device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said air engine to cause the latter to operate as an engine by air pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure in said "reservoir for both clutching and unclutching said clutch.

23. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, com rising an air engine, a shaft therefor, a sha t for connection to the internal combustion engine, two mechanical connections of different speed ratios between said two shafts, both of said connections producing the same relation between the directions in which said two shafts rotate and each of said connections including a device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said air engine to cause the latter to operate as an engine by air pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for controlling said clutch.

24. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, com rising an air engine, a shaft therefor, a sha t for connection to the internal combustion engine, two mechanical connections of different speed ratios between said two shafts, both of said connections producing the same relation between the directions in which said two shafts rotate and each of said connections including a device which allows the transmission of power in one direction only and one of said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said air engine to ca use the latter to operate as an engine by air pressure from said reservoir or as a pump to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for both clutching and unclutching said clutch. I

25. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising an air engine, a shaft for connection to the internal combustion engine, a speed-reducing mechanical connection from said air engine to said shaft, and a separate speed-reducing mechanical connection from said shaft to said air engine, each of said connections including a device which allows the transmission of power in the speed-reducing direction only and one of said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the connections of the ports of said air engine to cause the latter to operate as an engine by pressure from said icservoir to drive said shaft through the first named mechanical connection or as a pump driven from said shaft through the second named mechanical connection to supply fluid to said reservoir, and means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for controlling said clutch.

26. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising an air engine, a shaft for connection to the internal comlmstion engine, a speed-reducing mechanical connection from said air engine to said shaft, and a. separate speed-reducing mechanical connection from said shaft to said air engine, each of said connections including a device which allows the transmission of power in the speed-reducing direction only and one of said connections including a clutch, a reservoir for fluid under pressure, and a valve for controlling the connections of the ports in said air engine to cause the latter to operate as an engine by pressure from said reservoir to drive said shaft through the first named mechanical connection or as a pump driven from said shaft through the second named mechanical connection to supply fluid to said reservoir, and

means responsive to the pressure in said reservoir for both clutching and unclutching said clutch.

27. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a reservoir for fluid under pressure, an air engine which may be supplied with compressed fluid from said reservoir to operate as an engine or may be driven as a pump to su ply compressed fluid to said reservoir, a siiaft for connection to the internal combustion engine, a speed reducing mechanical connection through which said air engine may drive said shaft, and a separate speed reducing mechanical connection through which said shaft may drive said air engine, a clutch in the last named mechanical connection, means responsive to the pressure in the reservoir for controlling said clutch, and a valve independent of said pressure-responsive means and controlling the connections of the air engine to cause it to operate as an engine or as a pump.

28. A pneumatic starter for internal combustion engines, comprising a reservoir for fluid under pressure, an air engine which may be supplied with compressed fluid from said reservoir to operate as an engine or may be driven as a pump to supply compressed fluid to said reservoir, a shaft for connection to the internal combustion engine, a speed reducing mechanical connection throu h which said air engine may drive said sha t, a separate speed reducing mechanical connection through which said shaft may drive said air engine, a clutch in the last named mechanical connection, means responsive to the pressure in the reservoir for clutching and unclutching said clutch and a valve independent of said pressure-resposive means and controlling the connections of the air engine to cause it to operate as an engine or as a pump.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 25th day of -March, A. D; one thousand nine hundred and twelve.

GRANVILLE e. WESTERFIELI).

Witnesses:

G. B. SCHLEY, FRANK A. FAHLE.

it. s.l 

